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RadioRanked verdict

Updated Nov 2026

Quansheng UV-K6 vs Retevis A3

Our pick

Quansheng UV-K6$31.55

The Quansheng UV-K6 is the clear winner for most amateur radio users.

The single most important differentiator is value. The UV-K6 costs $32 versus $108 for the Retevis A3, and RadioRanked's composite scoring reflects better listed specifications for the money. The UV-K6 offers confirmed 5W transmit power, CHIRP programming compatibility, and significantly lighter weight at 234g. The A3's transmit power is unknown, lacks CHIRP support, and weighs noticeably more.

Owner feedback also favors the UV-K6, with 398 Amazon reviewers rating it 4.4/5 stars compared to just 31 reviewers giving the A3 3.6/5 stars. While the smaller review pool for the A3 means less statistical confidence, the UV-K6's larger sample provides stronger buyer evidence of real-world satisfaction.

Both radios lack DMR, APRS, and GPS capabilities, so they're functionally equivalent on those features. The technical specs are effectively tied where documented.

The UV-K6 should appeal to budget-conscious operators and those learning the hobby, while the A3 might interest buyers with specific undisclosed features they've researched elsewhere.

Buy the Quansheng UV-K6. It delivers better specifications and pricing with demonstrated owner satisfaction.

By use case

Which should you buy?

  • Budget-conscious monitoring hobbyist on a tight budget

    It costs less than the alternative and still covers VHF and UHF with 200 memory channels for monitoring.

    UV-K6
  • Brand-new Technician licensee learning local simplex

    Its simpler setup and strong beginner rating suit a first radio for local simplex and repeater access.

    UV-K6
  • Hobbyist wanting programming with CHIRP software

    It supports CHIRP programming and offers a higher feature score for its class of handheld radios.

    UV-K6
  • NOAA weather monitoring and 6m experimenting

    It adds 6m coverage and a 999-channel memory, making it better suited to NOAA and multi-band use.

    A3
  • Operator needing basic multi-band coverage with large memory

    Its 999-channel memory and 6m band support give it broader basic multi-band coverage than the alternative.

    A3
  • Emergency kit buyer wanting a heavier, sturdier-feeling unit

    It weighs more than the alternative, which some buyers may prefer for a sturdier feel in a kit.

    A3

Reasons to choose Quansheng UV-K6

  • 71% cheaper ($31.55 vs $109.99)
  • 52g lighter (234g vs 286g)
  • Has CHIRP compatibility
  • FCC equipment authorization on file

Reasons to choose Retevis A3

  • 5x more memory channels (999 vs 200)
  • 79% more battery (2500 mAh vs 1400 mAh)

Spec battle

Spec-by-spec breakdown

Quansheng UV-K6SpecRetevis A3
$31.55
Price
$109.99
64
Overall Score
27
2.4× difference
5.00W
TX Power (High)
—
200
Memory Channels
999
5.0× difference
234g
Weight
286g
+22% difference
1400 mAh
Battery
2500 mAh
+79% for winner
Dot-matrix LCD
Display
—
Covers the electronics only (Part 15B)
FCC Authorization
No grant found
Black
color
Green
1
unitCount
1

Made your choice?

Quansheng UV-K6PICK

$31.55 on Amazon

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